Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Had a big surprise at home today... a surprise birthday party that is :) Siap dgn balloon, banner etc. Baru je a few days ago I made a remark to a friend during another friend's son's birthday party... that I've only had one big birthday party. And that was when I was seven!

And voila... as I turn 37, another party. Albeit just with family members. It was meaningful nonetheless. They kept the secret well... I didn't have a clue. The only thought that crossed my mind was when I smelled food as I entered the house today.

So terharu that Ina and Abang actually took leave to prepare for the party. Apparently they've been planning it for several weeks. I am blessed with wonderful siblings :)

At the office, celebrations started early with a birthday lunch on 30/1 with HRH, NAMN, MM and Mr B. The other Reggies couldn't make it. Lunch was at Saffron and we had rich, lovely red velvet cake courtesy of HRH.

And on 31/1, there was breakfast at the department to celebrate all the January "babies". But since it was on my birthday, I had the honour of cutting the cake :)

Wishes came in via SMS and FB from near and far. Don't you just love how technology helps bring ppl together :)

So I am now 37. I don't feel like I'm 37. Well, maybe body is older but inside, I think I've not really aged. As the fridge magnet that I bought in Scotland say "Young at heart (other parts slightly older)" ;)

So this means, no more increments moving forward. If I'm lucky, I'll get ex-gratia payment. But that's it. There goes any hopes of buying that piece of property. Have to wait until I settle my WUU loan before I can start entertaining any thoughts of purchasing another property.

Sure I can do so now, but that means lesser amount put aside for savings and less travel. Ermm... not quite ready to give up on that ;)

I didn't expect this to happen so soon... after all, I've only been a DD for about 5+ years. Why so cepat reach gaji mati??

As I see it, there are only two possibilities to continue getting a raise...1) If there is a salary adjustment for my post2) If I'm promoted

Unlikely for 1) to happen in the near future. And I definitely do not want to be promoted anytime soon. Too much responsibility. I'm already struggling as it is in this post.

Of course there is that 3rd option... If I move out and find a "greener pasture". But the thing is, that is not my goal in life... that's not the reason why I work.

Having said that, it is still tak best to be in a situation where I can no longer look forward to naik gaji :(

Decided to send WUU to the workshop today. The adjusters have not called, but seeing that my schedule will be packed next week onwards, it would be quite hard to just "keluar kejap to send the car".

Has been a week since I last drove WUU. She has been resting under an old bedspread. Masuk je kereta, the leather smell was exciting. Holding the steering wheel was even better. But alas, it was just a for a short drive from Kg Sri Delima to Jln 222.

The C&C consultant said that it might take 2-3 weeks for the adjuster & insurance processing to settle. Plus 2 more weeks to repair. That's a long time away from my WUU :(

We'll be together again soon... and we'll go vroom vroom again like we used to :)

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

It was 11:03 pm... driving Abang home, together with Ina. On the radio was "All by myself", when Ina asked "Kenapa lagu ni lelaki yang nyanyi?""Because they are the original singers... Air Supply", I replied. "Ina ingat Celine Dion yg mula2 nyanyi ke?""Ha'ah... coz dia nyanyi lagu ni famous giler""No lah... dia nyanyi balik. Langsung famous balik. Before this masa Air Supply nyanyi pun famous gak. But Celine buat jadi re-hit"

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Yesterday, 17/1/2012, WUU turned 1... and as a present, I got into an accident. Kat Jalan Kuching, while crawling home, just before the Caltex station... dah nak sampai rumah dah :( My fault really... I was sleepy and dozed off for a mere few seconds and BAM! Hit the black Savvy in front and in turn it hit the Honda City in front.

The "crunching" sound as I hit the car will remain in my sound memory bank... it was surreal!

But I was surprisingly calm. The first thing that crossed my mind was... there goes my NCD. Tak rasa panic, sedih, takut... nothing. I do feel sorry to the two ladies who were affected by my carelessness though.

It was an accident waiting to happen. This was not the first time I drove home sleepy and frequently catch myself dozing off. It happen often. Hopefully this will be the last.

I was lucky... it wasn't a bad accident (although the lady in front may not agree with me). We were after all "crawling". I have in the past caught myself on the highway at high speed terlelap. Nauzubillah...

Dalam tak teruk tu pun, WUU punya "injury" was quite severe.

So this morning was spent to figure out how to put WUU back to shape. Since it is a Mercedes, I'm not taking chances with just any workshop. WUU deserves the best, and so I ended up sending it to Cycle Carriage Bintang's workshop. It is an authorised workshop for Mercedes Benz. First went to Mutiara Damansara to find out more, then off to Jalan 222.

Last night, Papa & Amt estimated that it would cost about RM10k to repair. Dalam hati I thought "wow... banyaknya". But today, upon inspection, the consultant (tak main lah panggil mechanic... this is Mercedes after all, hehe. Honest... that's what he is called) kata it will take approximately 2 weeks to repair and roughly about RM50k. What??? RM50k??? That's enough to buy a car! But again... I was surprisingly calm. Not even a spike in heartbeat. I guess it is because I'm not paying... hahaha. That's what takaful/insurance is for after all. The only thing that crossed my mind was... yup, you guessed it... there goes my NCD.

According to the consultant, the "surgery" will involve:- changing both side panels (since they're made of aluminium, cannot ketuk)- replace hood- replace headlights- replace compressor (although not bocor, it was dented when a lever knocked into it)- change the front bar... can't recall the proper name, but it is the bar between the bumper and radiator- change the grill- 50/50 whether the bumper kena tukar or not.

2 weeks to repair, but it can only start after Etiqa (that's my takaful company... they will not be happy with the bill) gives a nod to proceed. Meanwhile kena tunggu:- Adjuster to make assessment- Adjuster to make recommendation to Etiqa- Etiqa to process... baru boleh dapat approval to repair.

This couldn't happen at the worst time, since next Monday is Chinese New Year. Unlikely that the adjuster will take up this case with only 3 more days to the weekend. Next week definitely cuti. Week after lah baru adjuster tengok. God knows how long for him to do paperwork and submit to Etiqa, and berapa lama lagi baru Etiqa decide.

So looks like I'm car-less for at least a month... if I'm lucky.

Nasib baik WNN ada. The ever dependable WNN who has been sidelined for far too long. I still love you my dear :) Time for me too shower some lurve on you...